GILLS SIGN DONS DEFENDER

Gillingham have this afternoon signed defender Tom Flanagan on a half-season loan from League One MK Dons.

The 20-year-old, born in Hammersmith, came through the ranks with the Buckinghamshire outfit and captained their Under-18 side while a second-year scholar before making his first-team debut for the club as a late substitute against Carlisle United in February 2010.

In January 2011 he went out on loan to Blue Square Premier Kettering Town and went on to make 22 appearances for the Poppies before returning to stadium:mk.

Last season saw him establish himself in Karl Robinson’s squad and he scored three goals in 26 matches.

On capturing Flanagan manager Martin Allen said: “He’s a centre-back and played about 27 games last season in a team which was in the play-offs virtually all season. He played very well against the team I was managing last year – he’s a young centre back and a good player.”